Emory woke up to the most unusual, satisfying sensation. With a gasp, she looked down to see those golden eyes smiling at her from between her legs.

“Thought I’d wake you up in a way you’d like,” he said, his smile effervescent, before his tongue resumed its tender work on her clit.

She let out a moan, her body shuddering with delight as her fingers entwined in his hair. He continued until she was trembling with pleasure. She lay there, her body still tingling and her heart racing, feeling utterly content. A satisfied sigh escaped her lips as she smiled, eyes closed, savouring the afterglow. She knew she would never forget this moment.

“Well, you’ve really set the bar now,” she murmured with a low chuckle as her eyes fluttered open.

“I aim to please, Eilir,” he replied, settling on top of her, his left hand bracing himself as he leaned in to kiss her.

“We should join the elders,” he said between kisses, his voice a husky murmur. “They are ready to proceed with discussing our unification ceremony.”

Emory’s smile widened as she returned his kiss, savouring his warmth and tenderness. The urgency of their earlier passion had given way to a gentle intimacy that left her feeling cherished, and she could not get over the joy of being with her mate.

Reluctantly, she allowed herself to focus on his words. “Our unification ceremony,” she repeated softly. The elder from back in the chasm had mentioned that as well.

Kane’s golden eyes softened as he looked at her, his thumb tracing the curve of her jaw. “Yes, our union. One of the oldest dragon traditions that will bind us in heart and soul, in the eyes of the dragon folk, and make you queen.”

She nodded. “When do we go to Kedar? Trey will be worried sick again?” she whispered.

He helped her sit up, their naked bodies still closely aligned. “Let’s get ready,” he said, his voice a gentle command. “The elders won’t wait forever, and we have much to prepare.”

“You didn’t answer me,” she told him as he rose in front of her. Her eyes roamed his pristine naked form, captivated by the intricate glyphs travelling down from his torso to wrap around his right leg. A stirring sensation bloomed in her belly as she watched him move gracefully to grab a black robe.

“Eilir, we will go to Kedar after meeting with the elders. You have my word,” he promised, before disappearing into a room she assumed was the bathroom.

Her heart twisted a little. Not because she didn’t believe him, but because it was kind of annoying. Why was he putting the dragon elders before her desire to return home? Like the Thetas, the elder wolves, didn’t matter. It made her feel as if her wishes were secondary to his responsibilities. She’d barely been back home from Broiia before all of this. She had barely had the time to fully mourn Larc or console his mate, and had already lost two days. There was no way to express how desperately she wanted to go back to Kedar. And she couldn’t just come and go in his lair as she pleased—she needed to figure that out. She dropped back onto the bed with a loud huff, staring at the ceiling before closing her eyes.

Darkness swallowed her, and she gasped as she found herself in an unfamiliar, shadowy realm.

“Lady Chav’re, not so mighty now, are you queen?” Seraphine’s mocking voice echoed as she materialized in front of Emory.

Emory grunted, trying to move but finding herself paralysed, unable to even twitch a muscle. Seraphine loomed over her with a triumphant grin.

“There’s no use in struggling. You have no power here,” Seraphine sneered. “This was my only window before the crimson wings initiated the unification ritual.” She vanished from sight, and Emory’s eyes darted around, searching for her.

“You have a death wish, you little shit!” Emory spat.

“By the time I’m done, there’ll be no proof of what happened here. The dragons are set in their ways, stubborn to a fault, and their king is the most stubborn of them all!” Seraphine’s voice was filled with venom. “The only way I can force Lord Odreil’s hand is by getting him to denounce you. The dragon folk will only denounce a mate when she is unfaithful.”

Emory scoffed. “I would never.”

“Of course. Of course. I bet you never thought you’d kiss the Lycan king, huh?” Seraphine chuckled, reappearing to hover menacingly above her. “All I have to do is get you to give in to your desire for Rahl, and everything will fall into place.” She swept Emory’s hair from her face, leaning in closer. “For someone who’s supposed to be a unifier, you will be the instigator of a cosmic war, and that deeply satisfies me.”

Emory’s mind raced. Could Seraphine really control her mind as she had done with Rahl? The thought was terrifying. She struggled to free herself again, but her limbs remained immobile. She had deluded herself into thinking she was immune to Seraphine’s influence. The realization was deeply disappointing and frightening.

“What’s the point of telling me all this?” she wondered aloud, her voice trembling. “This is such a stupid plan because now I know what you plan to do, and I won’t let you.”

Seraphine’s eyes gleamed with a twisted delight. “Oh, sweet child, your naivety is entertaining,” she said, her voice dripping with mockery. “You think knowledge alone can stop me? Once you return to your precious love cocoon with the Imperial Lord, you will forget all of this. You’ll always have that nagging feeling that something’s coming. That’s the point—to haunt your waking moments, your dreams, and your thoughts with the uncertainty of when I will strike.”

She snapped her fingers, and Emory was abruptly back in Kane’s bedroom. She sat up quickly, disoriented and alarmed, just as he stepped back into the room, naked and drying himself with a towel.

“Everything okay?” he asked, concern furrowing his brows as he watched her.

Emory rose, looking around the room as an uneasy feeling crept up her spine. She couldn’t pinpoint it, but a sense of dread gnawed at her gut. Kane tossed his towel aside and approached her, holding her face gently in his cold hands. His eyes searched hers, his brows drawing together as his gaze darkened.

“Sera! Was she just in your head?” he growled furiously.

“What are you talking about?” she asked, a bit confused. “I would know if she did and she wasn’t.”

“No, no, you wouldn’t,” he hissed. “Freshen up and wait for me. I need to take care of something.”

“Wait for you? Kane, is there a way I can enter and leave your lair on my own? There are things I need to do.” She frowned, stepping out of his touch and doing her best to contain her frustration.

“Yes, you can, but this needs to be done first.” He paused for a moment. “This is our lair, Eilir, not just mine. Not any more. It is as much yours to command as it is mine, but please remain here until I return. This is important.”

Without waiting for her response, his naked form was suddenly clothed in the familiar black ensemble, the crown around his forehead gleaming. The doorway opened, and he walked into it, leaving her alone.

Emory stood there, her mind a tangled mess. The room felt colder without him, the silence pressing down on her. Did that witch really mess with her mind? She had thought she was impervious to Seraphine’s tricks.

Taking a deep breath, Emory decided to take a bath to clear her head. She slowly made her way to the bathroom, marvelling at its luxurious and enchanting design. It was like stepping into a secluded forest brook, complete with a hot stream running through the centre, a spacious shower, and an inviting tub. It was vast, almost endless, and she wondered if it was that way so Kane could shift into his dragon form here.

She made her way to the stream, dipping her toes in before fully immersing herself. The icy water welcomed her, soothing her tense muscles and calming her racing thoughts. She allowed herself to float for a moment, feeling the gentle current wash over her, carrying away the remnants of anxiety.

After a while, Emory stepped out of the stream and into the shower. The warm water washed away the rest of her worries. She closed her eyes, letting the soothing sensation ground her, the steady rhythm of the water a comforting lullaby.

As the water poured over her, Emory’s thoughts began to settle, and she felt a familiar fire in her chest. But familiar from when? The sensation was intense and invigorating, as if awakening a dormant part of her.

Stepping out of the shower, she wrapped herself in a plush towel, breathing deeply. The warm, steamy air filled her lungs.

Emory dried off and dressed in a comfortable white robe before returning to the main room. This was her space too, and she needed to assert that. But she would wait for Kane to return before trying to explore it further. She sneezed unexpectedly, and to her shock, orbs of fire shot out of her hands. With a gasp, she jumped backward, eyes wide as she watched the fire bounce off the black wall and die out.

In disbelief, she stared at her palms, trying to comprehend what had just happened. Was this her hunter ability, or had she completely imagined it? The fire had felt so real, so powerful. Her heart raced as she struggled to process the event.

She sat down on the edge of the bed, staring at her hands and still reeling from the shock. Concentrating hard, she tried to recall the sensation she had felt just moments ago. As she focused, a slight tingling returned to her fingertips, but nothing more.

Could this be her new power unlocked by the intense events of the past couple of days? Emory knew she needed answers, and quickly. Her aunt Kinshra was the only person who came to mind. Goddess, she needed to get to Kedar!

“No, I need to wait for him.” She decided to wait for Kane’s return, her mind buzzing with questions. Maybe he would know something about it.

She took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing thoughts, but it didn’t work. Now was not the time to sit around doing nothing. Emory shot to her feet and looked around. He’d said this lair was as much hers to command as his.

“Lair, I need to get to Kedar. Take me to the Chav’re compound,” she commanded, looking around expectantly.

To her amazement, a doorway materialized in front of her. Heart pounding, she stepped through and found herself in an unfamiliar yet striking place. It looked like a bedroom, but”

“Emory?”

She snapped around to find Rahl standing on the balcony, his robe undone. Her eyes instinctively traced his bare torso to the low-sitting house pants on his waist.

Rahl’s eyes widened in surprise as he took in her unexpected appearance. “What are you wearing? How did you get here?”

Ugh, had she really forgotten to get dressed before stepping out of the robe? She ran her hands through her hair, frustration bubbling over. Why did the portal bring her here instead of Kedar as she’d asked?

“You’re unbelievable, you know that? Seraphine took me, sent your general and warriors back to you, yet you did nothing!” she spat, anger and hurt in her words.

“She gave me her word that she would return you to Kedar unscathed,” he replied, walking up to her. “Was that not the case?”

“Do I look like I am in Kedar, Rahl? Do I?” she yelled.

He paused, his expression shifting from confusion to concern. “No, you don’t. But you’re here now. Tell me what happened.”

Emory took a deep breath, her heart pounding. “Seraphine’s agenda doesn’t bode well for you, Rahl. I don’t know how, but she’s trying to make sure you don’t regain your authority as king. You need to cut her off, remove her as regent.”

“I cannot. You know what she’ll do if I attempt that?” His voice was tight with tension, a mix of fear and frustration.

She understood his fear, given what she knew about Seraphine and the shadow sect. Emory stepped closer, her eyes locked on his. “Rahl, she’s manipulating everyone. If you don’t stop her, she’ll ruin everything. You have to do something!”

Rahl looked away, his jaw clenched, the muscles in his neck taut with stress. “It’s not that simple. She has power and influence. If I make a move against her, she’ll retaliate. And you—you could get caught in the crossfire.”

“So what’s the alternative? Let her destroy everything? Let her win?” She threw her hands up in the air.

His eyes met hers, helplessness swirling within them. “No, I do have a plan. We need to be smart about this. Our union should be done as soon as possible and without her knowing. I can be rid of her once I gain access to my Lycan again.”

Her heart ached as she realized what she had to tell him. Goddess, how could she let him know that she couldn’t mate with him? “Rahl, there’s something you need to know,” she began, her voice barely above a whisper. She took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest. “I” I can’t mate with you. I recently met my mate, and I’m already bonded with him.”

The silence that followed her confession was deafening. Rahl’s eyes widened in shock, his face paling. “What?” he whispered in disbelief.

“I didn’t plan for this to happen,” Emory continued. “But Kane and I” we’re bonded. I can’t break that bond.”

His expression hardened, pain and anger flashing across his features. “You” you bonded with him already?”

She nodded. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you or jeopardize your chance of” getting your Lycan back.”

He took a step back, his hands clenched into fists. “This changes everything,” he muttered, his eyes darkening. “There’s no undoing this. I guess Seraphine wins.”

Emory’s heart sank. “No, there’s got to be another way.”

“Really? Pray, tell. How do you figure I can beseech the goddess to release my Lycan without doing as she instructed?” he provoked.

“All Aworyn wants is peace. If you deliver on that, she owes it to you!” Emory tried to explain to him, trying desperately to rectify things.

Before he could respond, the air suddenly grew thick with an ominous presence. Emory’s skin prickled with unease as a dark shadow formed in the corner of the room. She knew instantly who it was.

“I thought I’d find you here.” Seraphine’s voice was chilling and mocking. She stepped into the light, her eyes gleaming with malevolent delight.

Rahl took a protective step in front of her. “Seraphine, leave us alone.”

Seraphine’s laughter filled the room with a chilling and sinister atmosphere. “Oh, but the fun is just beginning. You see, I have plans for both of you. And I can’t have you attempting to ruin them. That isn’t what you’re meant to be doing.”

Emory’s heart pounded in her chest as Seraphine raised her hand, dark energy swirling around her fingers. Anytime now, new fire power thing!

Before they could react, a powerful force slammed into them, sending them crashing to the floor. Emory’s vision blurred as she struggled to stay conscious. The last thing she saw was Seraphine’s wicked smile as darkness claimed her.